Crate.



N0. 830,096. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

A. G. MGKEE.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 20, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT1- PATENTED SEPT.- 4, 1906. A. aMOKEB.

CRATE.

APPLIGATION ILED DBO. 20, 1905.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

if 77 P k z? AUSTIN C. MCKEE,` OF SALEM, MISSOURI.

CRATE. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1 906.

." pplication filed December 20,1905. Serial No. 292.642.

To (LJ/Z 1071/0771/ 'it puny concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN C. MCKEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Dent and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping-crates, and has for its primary ob ject to provide a device of this character which is so constructed as to be readily coly lapsed when not in use.

Further objects'are to provide a folding crate which has no separate parts to become lost, which will occupy a minimum amount of space when not in use, and which will be perfectly rigid when distended.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the box in a distended position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view on the line :c of l? ig. 2, and showing the method of connecting the intermediate partition to the side. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, the crate being in an open position. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing the crate as partly folded, and Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the crate when folded Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The general construction of the crate come prises sides and ends which are hinged to each other, so that the ends serve as links and enable the sides to be folded against each other. The bottom and top of the crate are hinged to the sides so as to engage with the ends and hold the crate open when in a normal position. The sides 1 of the crate are provided upon their outside with longitudinal rails or strips 2, which are located at the top and bottom thereof, and the ends 3 are provided on their inner faces with similar strips 4. The ends 3 are somewhat wider than the sides l, so that the ends of the rails 2 upon the sides 1 come between the strips 4 upon the ends 3. These strips 4 and 2 have their ends pivotally connected by means of bolts or other suitable fastening means 5. It

will be readily seen that this construction enables the sides 1 to be folded against each other, the ends 3 being pivotally connected thereto and serving as link members.

In order that the ends of the sides l may fit closely against the ends 3 of the crate, one side of cach of said ends 3 is provided with a groove or recess 6, adjacent the ends of the sides 1. These recesses 6 are located upon opposite sides of the crate and form spaces into which the inwardly-projecting ends of the sides 1 can swing when the crate is folded. There these grooves or recesses 6 are formed upon one side only of the ends 3, it will be apparent that the crate must always be folded in the same direction, although by placing two grooves upon each end 3 the crate could be folded in both directions.

The top 7 and bottom 8 of the crate are similar in construction and are pivoted upon opposite sides of the crate to the rails 2. These members 7 and S fit between the strips 4 upon the ends 3 when the crate is distended and by engaging with these strips 4 hold the crate rigidly in an opened position. Both the top and bottom are provided at opposite ends with reinforcing-strips 9, which extend entirely around the members and pass through eyes or loops 10 upon the outer edges of the longitudinal rails 2 upon the sides 1. In this manner the hinged connection is formed between the crate and the top and bottom thereof. The free or swinging end of both the top and bottom project over the longitudinal rails 2 on the opposite sides of the crate and are provided with means whereby they may be detachably fastened to these rails 2. Locking members 11 pass through openings in the free edge of both the top 7 and bottom 8 and have their engaging end bent to form a transversely-extending arm 12, while the opposite end is looped or otherwise suitably bent to form a handle 13. These transversely-extending arms 12 upon the locking members 11 are so placed as to pass through slots or openings 14 in the rails or strips 2 when the top 7 and bottom S are folded into normal position. These openings 14 and locking members 12 are so placed with relation to each other that when the transverse arms 12 are turned in one direction they pass freely through the openings 14, but when turned in the opposite direction engage with the sides of said openings. It will thus be seen that by turning the locking members after the arms 12 have passed through the IOO IIO

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openings 14 the top or bottom of the crate can be locked in normal position.

The cover or top 7 is provided with an intermediate reinforcing-strip 16, similar to the reinforcing-strips 9, except that it is broadened at its outer end to form a large bearing for the locking member normally employed to hold the cover in a closed position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that when the top 7 and bottom 8 are folded against the sides 1 the body of the crate can-be readily collapsed, as seen in Fig. 6. It will also be apparent that when either the top 7 or bottom 8 are in normal osition the ends thereof will engage with the ongitudinal strips 4 upon the ends 3 of the crate and hold the crate rigidly in an opened position.

The numeral 17 designates an intermediate partition, which it will sometimes be found desirable to employ. This partition 17 is provided at its top and bottom with metal strips 18, which project beyond the sides of the partition 17, the projecting portions of the strip being provided with longitudinal slots 19. These slots 19 engage with the rods 20,which are secured to the inner faces of the sides 1 by any suitable fastening means, such as screw-eyes 21. The body portion of the rods 2() are of such a size as to slide freely in the slots 19, while the ends of said rods are provided with heads by means of which they are prevented from slipping out of position.

When the crate is in an open position, the

lrods 20 are in engagement with the inner ends of the slots 19. I-Iowever, when the crate is folded, as seen in Fig. 6, these rods slide in the slots 19 until they are in engagement with the outer ends thereof. This sliding action is due to the fact that the pivot-points Where the strips 4 and 2 are connected are farther apart than the rods 20, upon which the intermediate partition 17 is mounted.

Since the body of the crate is folded upon the bolts 5, the distance between the rods 20 will be increased as4 the crate is folded and will cause the rods to slide in the slots 19. The operation is substantially the same when the partition is employed as has heretofore been described, and attention is directed to the fact that this partition is permanently connected to the crate and is therefore not liable to be lost, as would otherwise be the having their ends pivotally connected to the before-mentioned rails upon the sides, the said ends being provided at points adjacent the sides with recesses which enable the sides to be folded against each other without binding, and a top and bottom hinged to the sides and engaging with the ends to hold the crate distended when in normal position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of oppositely-disposed sides, ends pivotally connected to the sides and serving as links to enable the sides to be folded against each other, a top and bottom hinged to the sides and engaging with the ends to hold the crate normally in an open position, and an intermediate partition loosely connected to the sides, the distance between the points where the ends of the intermediate partition are connected being different from that between the pivot portions of the ends of the crate so that the former distance varies as the crate is folded, the loose connection between the ends of the intermediate partition and the sides of the crate serving to compensate for the varying distance.

3. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a pair of oppositely-disposed sides, ends pivotally connecting the sides and serving as link members to enable the sides to be folded against each other, a top and bottom hinged to the sides and engaging with the ends to hold the crate normally in an open position, an intermediate partition, the edges -of which are provided with lateral projections having slots therein, and rods secured to the sides of the crate and slidably mounted in the slots whereby lateral play is allowed between the sides and the intermediate partition when the crate is folded.

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of oppositely-dis posed sides, ends connecting the sides and serving as link members to enable the sides to be folded against each other, a to and bottom hinged to the sidesand serving to hold the crate normally in a distended position, an intermediate partition, strips secured to the top and bottom of the intermediate partition and projecting beyond the sides thereof, the projecting portions of the strips being provided with slots, and rods secured to the sides of the crate and slidably mounted within the slots whereby a certain amount of lateral play is permitted between the intermediate partition and the sides of tfhe crate when the latter is folded.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUSTIN C. MCKEE.

Witnesses:

ROY PACE, WV. BENTs.

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